Portable folding camping cabin or house



Aug. 1, 1967 J- A. TAYLOR ETAL 3,333,373

PORTABLE FOLDING CAMPING CABIN OR HOUSE Filed Nov. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! FIG.2

I il I 5" r H IL I 3 I 4.--- 1". l/ l/ /4 INVENTORS JOHN A. TAYLOR GEORGE E. BRIGHAM ATTORN EYS Aug. 1, 1967 J. A. TAYLOR ETAL PORTABLE FOLDING CAMPING CABIN ORHOUSE Filed Nov. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 GEORGE B.BRIGHAM 8 JOH TAYL;

INVENTORS FIG.4

V ,-z9 Z7-2 3/ 2? 34 ULE-87 H I L//3 35 ALL n 3 II I 2 Isl1 3g ATTORNEYS Aug. 1,1967 J. A. TAYLOR ETAL 3,333,373

PORTABLE FOLDING CAMPING CABIN OR HOUSE Filed Nov. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTORS JOHN A. TAYLOR GEORG a. BRIGHA ATTORN EYS Aug. 1, 1967 J. A. TAYLOR ETAL 3,333,373

PORTABLE FOLDING CAMPING CABIN OF HOUSE Filed Nov. 22, 1965 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 FIG. l2

FIG. I3

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FIG. l4

' J 3 INVENTORS gig JOHN A. TAgLOR GEORGE E. mew-g? &-.=-. 5* ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,333,373 PORTABLE FOLDING CAMPING CABIN 0R HOUSE John A. Taylor and George B. Brigham, both of Ann Arbor, Mich., assignors to Central Fibre Products, Chelsea, Mich.

Filed Nov. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 509,001 10 Claims. (Cl. 52--63) The present invention relates to a portable folding house or camping cabin which is normally collapsible and stored in a minimum of space and which can be erected and assembled with a minimum of effort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a folding collapsible camping cabin or screenhouse, summerhouse, patio or beach or pool cabana which consists of a series of folding hingedly interconnected panels including a dome shaped roof with a suitable framework therefor and a flexible plastic floor with means for securing the assembled panels in an upright circular form and for securing the roof framework to the panels and for anchoring the entire assembly to the ground surface.

The present invention is an improvement over the disclosure of United States Patent Nos. 3,118,186, dated Jan. 21, 1964, and 3,134,200, dated May 26, 1964.

The present invention is more particularly directed to improvements in the details of construction of the present folding collapsible camping cabin or the like.

'It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel form of panel construction and a novel means of hingedly interconnecting the panels.

It is another object to provide a novel panel assembly and door frame construction.

It is another object to provide a novel floor assembly and floor construction with means for sealingly engaging a curb flange in the floor with respect to the interior of the respective assembled panels for sealing the interior of the cabin against exterior moisture and with improved means for anchoring the panels in upright assembled position.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective partly assembled view of the present collapsible cabin;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectioned side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of one complete panel and with portions of adjacent panels hingedly connected therewith;

FIG. 4 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 3, on an increased scale, being partly broken away for illustration;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section in the direction of arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3, on an increased scale;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partially sectioned view showing the connection of one of the tubes of the framework with the panel assembly;

.FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan and partially sectioned view of the ceiling framework;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view taken in the direction of arrows 9-9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary partially sectioned elevational view of the assembly of the panels with the cabin floor;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hinge construction;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view from the interior of the cabin viewing the door panel and adjacent panels fragmentarily shown;

ice

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view' showing the connection of the free ends of the panel securing cables;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of a dilferent panel and door hinged assembly. i

It will be understood that the above drawings illustrate merely a preferred embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the construction and assembly of the series of folding collapsible wall panels 11, with one of the said panels being of reduced height as at 12 forming a door and with all of the panels being hingedly interconnected at 13.

The respective panels 11 are secured in the circular forms shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by means of a pair of vertically spaced independent cables 14 and 15, which are threaded through undercut outwardly opening slotted portions in the respective tops and bottoms of the adjacent panels and are respectively clasped together within corresponding outwardly opening channels of the door threshold 54, FIG. 12, and the door header 56, FIG. 12, said fastening being by suitable clasps or snap fasteners as indicated at 16, in FIG. 14, to thus maintain an assembled relationship of the respective hingedly interconnected panels in the circular form shown in FIG. 2.

The collapsible cabin also includes a roof framework which consists of a central ring-like spider 17 to which are connected the inner ends of a series of radially extending flexible preferably aluminum tubes 18.

Each of these tubes mounts at its outer end as at 19 a cable engaging tip 19, which extends between the respective panels adjacent their upper ends and interlocks intension with the cable 15 in the manner shown in FIG. 6. A suitable nylon reinforced preferably vinyl plastic roof 20 is provided of a unitary construction and including adjacent its periphery as shown in FIG. 6 a series of spaced grommets 21 which retainingly extend over'the tube tips 19 for stretching and securing the rooftop assembly over the framework shown in FIG. 1.

Generally the collapsible cabin includes a nylon rein forced vinyl floor 22 of a suitable pliable flexible characteristic which adjacent its generally circular periphery has secured thereto a series of spaced grommets 23 which; receive the hooks 24 of the stakes 25 which are driven into the ground surface 26 radially outward of the floor 22 for anchoring the same tothe ground and for anchor ing the upright wall FIG. 10.

Each of the panels llincludes. a metallic frame preferably of extruded aluminum as at 27, FIG. 4, of a general rectangular shape defining the risers and headers and panels in the mannerjshown in crosspiece for the panel. The frame 27 includes the outwardly opening channels at the top and bottom of the panels as well as at the sides, FIG. 4, the said top and bottom outwardly opening channels adapted to cooperatively and retainingly receive portions of the securing cables 14 and 15.

The frames 27 include the inwardly directed, spaced,

opposed flanges 28 and inwardly thereof the transverse web 29 adapted to cooperatively receive the respective cables 14 and 15, FIG. 4. A removable preferably plastic elongated strip 15-30 is-nested within the undercut slots defined by the web and flanges 28 and cooperatively and retainingly engages the respestive cablesfor securing the same within the respective top and bottom portions of the respective panels in the assembled construction.

The frame 27 for the respective panels also includes adjacent the exterior thereof above and below the central crosspiece the outwardly opening continuous chan- 3 nels 31 of general rectangular shape, as best shown in FIG. 4.

The respective channels define the continuous grooves 32 which cooperatively and retainingly receive the continuous plastic beads 34 adapted to anchor throughout 360 peripheral portions of the screen 33, preferably of a plastic material which spans the upper rectangular opening in the frames and peripheral portions of the vinyl panel element 35 which spans the lower opening in said frame, FIG. 4.

Within some of the frames of the respective panels 11 and at least inwardly of those frames containing screen assemblies 33 there is provided a rectangular frame 36 mounting a preferably opaque panel 39 of a suitable vinyl plastic material to serve as a closure for the opening as desired.

Upon the interior of the extruded frame 27 there is provided the channels 37 adjacent the central crosspiece adapted to retainingly support the lower edge of panel frame '36. The upper portion of the frame bears at 38 against the channel extrusion 31, FIG. 4, and is removably secured in position, by retractable pin 41. Said pin extends through a corresponding aperture in the frame and terminates in the head 40, there being a suitable spring 42 normally urging the pin into the assembled interlocked position shown in FIG. 5.

To remove the closure panel 36-39 all that is necessary is to retract the spring biased pins 40-41 adjacent opposite sides of upper portions of frame 36.

When not in use panel 36 may be inverted 180 in the same vertical plane as shown in dotted line, FIG. 4, and positioned within the lower aperture of the frame under downwardly opening channel 37 therein with the respective retaining plungers 4041 nested within the corresponding apertures 43 within the said frame completing the construction. Thus, provision is made for providing an opaque closure for the screened opening 33 as desired, which closure may be removed and immediately stored within the panel in the lower portion thereof, FIG. 4.

The same framework shown in FIG. 4 for the top and bottom of the frameof each panel is also provided on the upright side edges thereof as shown in FIG. 5.

As above set forth the respective panels are hingedly interconnected to each other along their upright edges. For this purpose there is provided a hinged connection between the adjacent panels which is in the form of an elongated flexible plastic strip of Teflon or other material -as at 44 which is generally H shape in cross section including the end flanges 45 and 46.

Each of the said panels due to the construction of the framework, FIG. 5, have opposed outwardly opening elongated undercut channels along their upright edges into which the respective flanges 45 and 46 on the hinge web 44 are snugly and interlockingly projected.

The undercut slot is again defined by the inturned oppositely arranged outer flanges 28 and the webbing 29.

In this construction in order to separate the hinge connection between channels all that is necessary is to slidably remove the H shaped flexible hinged element 44-45- 46 from the corresponding undercut slots defined in the panel frames throughout their vertical heights.

In the manufacturing process of the hinge 13 there may be employed a dual durometer construction in that the flanged elements 45 and 46 in the manufacturing process are substantially hardened although integrally formed with the more yieldable and flexible webbing 44 of the hinge construction.

The roof framework providing the dome shown in FIG. 2 for the cabin has a central support member 17 in the form of a ring-like spider 47 which includes throughout its periphery a series of radially extending hubs 48, there being a suitable crosspiece 49 upon the interior from which lighting means could be suspended upon the interior of the assembled cabin.

Each of the respective preferably aluminum flexible tubes at their inner ends are axially and frictionally projected over the hubs 48 in interlocked relation with outer portions of the respective tubes curving outwardly and downwardly and mounted at their ends are the tips 19, FIG. 6. This tip is in the form of a unit construction which includes a cylindrical shank 50 which is projected into the outer end portions of the respective tubes 18 and staked in position at 51.

The tip 19 includes an outwardly extending hook formation 52 which defines a downwardly opening entrant passage 53 which cooperatively and retainingly receives the top cable 15 under tension. In completing the assembly of the framework with respect to the said circularly assembled panels, though not forming a part of the present invention, the tubes 16 are normally coplanar when unassembled such as shown in FIG. 1, but in the complete assembly of the dome the respective tubes 18 are curved outwardly and downwardly under tension so that the tips 19 retainingly and cooperatively interlock with the top cable 15 and at the same time form the dome shape for the framework as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, panels 11-12 provide a roof supporting wall; and the assembled tubes 18 provide for a wall holding or positioning roof. This is accomplished by restraining tip 19 from pushing outward and/ or upward, FIG. 6.

The panel 12 which defines the door for the cabin as shown in FIG. 12 is reduced in height with respect to the other panels as particularly noted in FIG. 1 in order to cooperatively register with the threshold 54 for the door and the header 56, FIG. 12.

Each of the adjacent panels 11 adjacent the door panel 12 have laterally directed opposed slots 55 adjacent their top and bottom and are adapted to receive and interlock with corresponding projections 57 on the outer ends of the threshold 54 and the header 56 for fixedly securing the said threshold and header in position as shown. Additionally, as above described the respective threshold 54 and the header 56 having outwardly opening channels into which extend the respective free end portions of the cables 14 and 15 which are clasped together within the respective undercut channels as at 16 shown on increased scale, FIG. 14 as well as FIG. 12.

A suitable latch is shown in 58 for securing the door panel 12 in the closed position shown, there also being provided a tension spring 59 for normally closing the door in a conventional manner.

The upper portion of door panel 12 is provided with a screen closure 33, preferably of a plastic material, for which there is provided a vertically adjustable preferably opaque closure 60'. For this purpose there is provided upon opposite side portions of the door panel the opposed channels or guides 61 which receive the outer marginal upright edge portions of closure 60 for guiding vertical adjustments thereof.

The elongated flexible upright strap 62 upon the exterior of the door is anchored at 63 to a central portion of closure 60. An upper portion of the strap extends through grommet 64 in the top of the frame with its free end 66 extending upon the interior of the door, FIGS. 12 and 13. An adjustable apertured stop 65 is threaded over free end portion 66 and is adjustable therealong. On pulling of strap end 66 closure 60 may be adjusted vertically within guides 61 and secured in adjusted position, fully lowered in FIG. 13 or in any other adjusted position, to provide a very simple closure for screen 33. This same type of closure may be used as desired for any other screened panel in the assembly.

Referring to the floor construction, FIG. 10, a series of spaced wire loops 67 at their inner ends extend around the lower cable 14 between the respective panels 11 and at their outer ends retainingly engage hooks 24 of stakes 25. This structure anchors panels 11 in the upright position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 10.

The floor construction is completed by an upright, peripheral integral curb flange 68 which extends upwardly of the floor 22 upon the interior of the panels. A series of spaced grommets 69 are anchored through upper edge portions of curb flange 68 and are adapted to receive the lower end 71 of the fastener or tie 70. The upper portion of the tie projects through a loop 72 on the respective panel completing the assembly and for anchoring the lower ends of the panels to the floor and for maintaining the curb flange in upright position to prevent admission of any moisture upon the interior of the assembled cabin.

The present cabin construction can be folded and collapsed into a space of 3 feet by 6 feet by 9 inches and can be carried upon the roof of a car or within a station wagon. There is thus provided a portable but rigid shelter when assembled which may be quickly set up as desired, preferably by two people. The cabin may be used as a beach house, family camping shelter, summer lake cabin, hunting lodge, childrens playhouse, pool cabana, bar-becue recreation house, skiing shelter, ice fishing shanty or ice skating hut.

A modified panel and door frame assembly is shown in FIG. corresponding partly to FIGS. 12 and 13 and wherein the separate threshold 54 and header 56 are omitted and replaced by a separate individual hollow door frame 73. This door frame at its opposite upright edges has the same construction as the adjacent panels and is hingedly connected thereto by the same flexible hinges 13 above described in assembly exactly the same as shown in FIG. 5 for illustration.

The door frame 73 of FIG. 15 also includes threshold 54' and header 56' and the interior rectangular opening 76 within which is nested and positioned door 74 including panels 33 and 35 as above described.

Said door is hingedly mounted as at 75 within the frame 73 and has a closure element 58 the same as above described in connection with FIG. 13.

This construction is a modification over what is shown in FIG. 12 since a door frame then becomes just one more panel and is hingedly connected at its opposite upright edges by the same flexible hinge as employed between respective other panels 11.

While the cables 14 and 15 are shown in completing the assembly in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that under some circumstances these cables could be omitted and the circular assembly maintained, employing merely the flexible elongated hinges 13 which interconnect the respective panels 11 and door frame 73 as shown in FIG. 15.

Assembly There are several ways by which the roof tubes may be assembled to complete the roof construction.

One method would be after the panels and door frame have been interconnected by the flexible hinges, hook the top cable 15 at a predetermined length and thereafter manually insert each roof tube into the center hub and then onto the top outside cable at their outer ends thus forcing the roof section into the upwardly domed position shown in FIG. 2.

An alternate method would be to apply after assembly of the panels and door frame a first set of angularly related tubes to form a cross adjacent opposite sides of the door frame interconnecting the cable and diametrically opposite therefrom interconnecting the outer ends of the said tubes with opposing panels. Ultimately, as these tubes are assembled and interconnected in tension with the respective top cable, bowing action will occur completing the assembly.

The present assembly is furthermore facilitated since no bolts or nuts are employed and no tools are needed in erecting the present building construction.

Tip 19, FIG. 6, also functions to hold the roof tubes 18 from pulling away from cable 15 while said roof tubes are being assembled with central hub 17 in FIG. 1.

Having described my invention reference should now be had to the following claims.

We claim: I

1. In a folding collapsible camping cabin, a series of uniform wall panels and a door frame, all hingedly interconnected along their upright edges and arranged and secured in a circle;

said door frame including a vertically spaced header and threshold;

adoor nested within and hingedly mounted on said door frame;

said panels at their tops and bottoms, and said header and threshold including outwardly opening channels;

a pair of vertically spaced panel securing cables threaded and interlocked with said channels respectively, with their free ends brought together and interconnected within said threshold and header respectively for securing the assembled panels and door frame in a fixed relation;

a dome-shaped framework above said panels including a series of centrally interconnected elongated outwardly and downwardly curved tubes, at their outer ends extending between said panels and interlocked in tension with the upper cable; a

and a flexible roof overlying-said framework and peripherally at space points interlocked with the outer ends of said tubes.

. 2. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, each panel and door frame, including a frame having opposed outwardly opening elongated undercut channels in their upright edges;

the hinged connection between panels and door frames,

including an elongated flexible plastic strip of H shape in cross section including a flexible web and end flanges;

. with the respective end flanges snugly interlocked within the undercut channels of adjacent panels and door frame throughout substantially the length of the channels and the height of said panels and door frame.

3. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, each panel, in cluding a frame;

said outwardly opening channels at the top and bottom of said panels including inwardly directed spaced flanges in the frame, and a transverse web spaced inwardly of said flanges cooperatively receiving said cables respectively;

and a removable strip on the interior of said flanges retainingly engaging said cables respectively.

4. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, each panel including an elongated extruded frame providing the risers, headers, and a central crosspiece;

the panel above and below the crosspiece having therein outwardly opening continuous channels of rectangular shape defining rectangular openings;

plastic and screen mesh plastic sheets spanning said openings and channels respectively;

and a plastic heading in said channels peripherally anchoring said sheets within said channels throughout 360.

5. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, each panel including an extruded frame providing risers, headers, and a central crosspiece defining upper and lower rectangular openings;

an opaque plastic sheet closure for the lower opening;

a screen closure for the upper opening;

said frame including interior support channels;

a framed opaque plastic closure in said frame inwardly of the screen closure;

nested in said channels;

and removable therefrom adapted for storing within corresponding channels inwardly of the lower closure.

6. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, some of said panels including a rectangular frame defining a window opening;

a screen in said opening;

upright opposed channel guides upon opposite sides of said panel adjacent said opening and on its exterior and therebelow;

an opaque window closure at its side edges movably mounted within said guides adapted to close said opening;

an upright flexible closure support strap secured to the top of said closure and movably extending through an aperture adjacent the top of the frame;

and adjustable stop means on said strap upon the interior of said frame and registerable therewith for raising and lowering said closure and securing the same in variable adjustable positions.

7. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, a flexible plastic floor of circular form underlying the assembled upright panels and extending radially outward thereof;

an upstanding peripheral curb flange extending upwardly of said floor integral therewith and upon and engaging the interior of said panels;

fastening means securing spaced portions of said curb flange to said panels throughout 360;

a series of stakes projectable into the ground surface and including hooks interlocked with outer peripheral portions of said floor.

8. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, a flexible plastic floor of circular form underlying the assembled upright panels and extending radially outward thereof;

an upstanding peripheral curb flange extending upwardly of said floor integral therewith and upon and engaging the interior of said panels;

fastening means securing spaced portions of said curb flange to said panels throughout 360;

a series of stakes projectable into the ground surface and including hooks interlocked with outer peripheral portions of said floor;

and a series of panel anchoring loops at their one ends mounted over the lower cable between panels and at their outer ends interlocked with said stake hooks.

9. In the collapsible cabin of claim 1, said domeshaped frame including a ring shaped spider having a series of radially extending hubs;

said tubes at their inner ends slidably and frictionally mounted axially over said hubs respectively;

a hook shaped tip having a cylindrical shank at one end projected into and secured within the outer end of each tube, and including an upwardly opening entrant slot, said tips being interlocked with spaced portions of the top cable between said panels.

10. In a folding collapsible camping cabin, a series of uniform wall panels hingedly interconnected along their upright edges and arranged in a circle;

one panel being of reduced height forming a door; the panels adjacent said door having opposed lateral slots at their tops and bottoms;

a vertically spaced upright header and a threshold cooperatively receiving the top and bottom of said door and at their ends interlocked with said lateral panel slots;

said panels at their tops and bottoms, said header and threshold including outwardly opening channels;

a pair of vertically spaced panel securing cables threaded and interlocked with said channels respectively, with their free ends brought together and interlocked within said threshold and header respectively for securing the assembled panels in a fixed relation;

a dome-shaped framework above said panels including a series of elongated outwardly and downwardly curved interconnected tubes at their outer ends extending between said panels and interlocked in tension with the upper cable;

and a flexible roof overlying said framework and peripherally at space points interlocked with the outer ends of said tubes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A FOLDING COLLAPSIBEL CAMPING CABIN, A SERIES OF UNIFORM WALL PANELS AND A DOOR FRAME, ALL HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED ALONG THEIR UPRIGHT EDGES AND ARRANGED AND SECURED IN A CIRCLE; SAID DOOR FRAME INCLUDING A VERTICALLY SPACED HEADER AND THRESHOLD; A DOOR NESTED WITHING AND HINGEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID DOOR FRAME; SAID PANELS AT THEIR TOPS AND BOTTOMS, AND SAID HEADER AND THRESHOLD INCLUDING OUTWARDLY OPENING CHANNELS; A PAIR OF VERTICALLY SPACED PANEL SECURING CABLES THREADED AND INTERLOCKED WITH SAID CHANNELS RESPECTIVELY, WITH THEIR FREE ENDS BROUGHT TOGETHER AND INTERCONNECTED WITHIN SAID THRESHOLD AND HEADER RESPECTIVELY FOR SECURING THE ASSEMBLED PANELS AND DOOR FRAME IN A FIXED RELATION; A DOME-SHAPED FRAMEWORK ABOVE SAID PANELS INCLUDING A SERIES OF CENTRALLY INTERCONNECTED ELONGATED OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY CURVED TUBES, AT THEIR OUTER ENDS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PANELS AND INTERLOCKED IN TENSION WITH THE UPPER CABLE; AND A FLEXIBLE ROOF OVERLYING SAID FRAMEWORK ANF PERIPHERALLY AT SPACE POINTS INTERLOCKED WITH THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID TUBES. 